About this project

$34,627

pledged of $34,000 goal

194

backers

Dear opera lovers, friends and family,

Nashville Opera, one of America's great opera companies, would like to record THREE WAY, a two hour comic opera in three acts, with music by Robert Paterson and a libretto by writer and theater critic David Cote, and featuring the original cast from the January, 2017 world premiere production in Nashville, Tennessee.

A Couple Press Quotes...

“an effortlessly funny, clever and deeply resonant opera… Paterson amplifies the humor and heartache of Cote's libretto with a bright and magnificent score, replete with deadpan musical retorts and soaring melodies straight out of Bellini, Puccini or Strauss.” —Opera News

“a postmodern opera that builds in time for audiences to belly laugh, encapsulates the complexity and depth of evolving identity and sexuality, and is both elegant and accessible... a lot of people should see this opera.” —Schmopera.com

What is Three Way?

Think Sex and the City meets Black Mirror: This new, three-act opera from American Opera Projects and Nashville Opera imagines the present and future of sex and love. Featuring music by Robert Paterson (The Whole Truth) and a libretto by David Cote (The Scarlet Ibis), Three Way unfolds in three playful one-acts, with average heroes exploring the worlds of android lovers, BDSM and multiple partners in their search for the ever-elusive emotional connections in today’s romantic world.

Here's a Synopsis...

THE COMPANION
(3 singers: soprano, tenor and baritone)
Not so far in the future, Maya (soprano) lives with her android lover named Joe (tenor). This interactive programmed Companion looks and sounds human—only better. Still, Maya wants more complexity from Joe. She has technician Dax (baritone) come by to install new experimental software, with surprising results.

SAFE WORD
(2 singers: mezzo soprano and bass-baritone)
Mistress Salomé (mezzo-soprano) is a high-priced dominatrix in a private dungeon, and today she has a new client (bass-baritone), a cocky businessman. Even though he's the one who pays to be humiliated, he’s prickly and aggressive. The “session” goes to places no one expected.

MASQUERADE
(8 singers: 2 sopranos, 2 mezzo-sopranos, tenor, countertenor, baritone, bass-baritone)
A party is taking place at a country mansion. It’s not a dinner gathering or holiday celebration: it’s a masquerade, hosted by Pleasure Pilgrims, an online community of sensualists and pleasure seekers. People from all walks of life come to shed outside selves, put on a mask and push the limits of erotic expression. Tonight four couples will face their deepest taboos.

"Without strong support from Nashville and director John Hoomes, Three Way would never have happened. It was a no-brainer to want to record with the original cast & the orchestra in Nashville, where it all started, in one of the greatest cities for making albums. I strongly believe in supporting communities that support new music, and I feel that it's important to make this album in Nashville, a city with a rich history of supporting artists and new music."

A project of this scope needs your support. With this album, we can spread the word about our opera, and take it to the next level, securing more performances of this work, and allowing people from all over the world to hear the music, especially those who weren't able to make it to Nashville, or BAM in Brooklyn.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO IT? We need to raise $34,000 in order to help cover costs for hiring 8 singers, 12 instrumentalists, the recording, editing, mixing, production and cover art.

TIMELINE FOR RAISING MONEY: 30 days... No big deal! We know we can do it with your help.

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T MEET OUR GOAL OF $34,000? You don't have to pay, but it also means that the project will not get funded, this exciting recording will not be released, and no one will have the opportunity to listen to this music outside of these limited performances.

WHAT IF WE MEET OUR GOAL? We will immediately get started on the recording process. The album will be released by December 2017 at the latest, so if we are fully funded, you can expect to be enjoying your copy of the album by year's end. Nashville Opera's impact and audience base is gigantic, and this album will be promoted to hundreds of opera companies and radio stations across the world.

WHAT IF WE EXCEED OUR GOAL? Any funds we receive above and beyond our original goal will be used to help pay for a PR firm, promotional materials, ads in opera magazines and other publications which are critical for spreading the word, mailing the physical CDs, attending the 2018 Opera America conference, and paying the staff of AMR, who all work for very little.

WHAT IF WE REACH OUR STRETCH GOAL OF $10,000? We would be so grateful! If we reach our stretch goal, we will be able to edit and finalize the video recording of the BAM production in June. We will give ALL donors exclusive access to the FULL video of the production. This will not be available to the public online.

WHY SHOULD YOU HELP? By helping you will become part of this project. No donation will be overseen. Your generosity is greatly appreciated, and we promise you will not regret helping.

IS MY DONATION TAX-DEDUCTIBLE? Absolutely. As a project of American Modern Ensemble, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization (the American Modern Recordings house ensemble), your donations are tax deductible.

Risks and challenges

After the project is successfully funded, the recording will definitely happen. In the event that for some unseen reason (an act of Nature, for example, or if Dean Williamson falls ill), the entire production will be rescheduled. This production will be under contract with the Nashville Musicians Association in Nashville, TN, so once we disperse the funds, the project will definitely go forward, no matter what.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $125 or more
About $125

Own The THREE WAY ARIAS SONGBOOK

$100 level rewards, PLUS your name in our album as SUPPORTER, PLUS a brand new copy of our beautiful, professionally-printed, glossy-covered THREE WAY SONGBOOK, containing all 12 arias in the opera, plus a bonus soprano aria that was in an early version of the opera. Beautifully engraved and autographed by Robert and David.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

Ask Us QUESTIONS

$100 level rewards, PLUS your name in our album as PATRON, PLUS send us (Robert and David) up to three questions and we'll answer them in a personal video posted to YouTube. Please keep those questions PG! ;-)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $850 or more
About $850

Enjoy a GOURMET DINNER FOR FOUR

$500 level rewards, PLUS your name in our album as BENEFACTOR, plus Robert will cook a gourmet, multi-course vegan dinner for you and up to three other people at his apartment in New York City using recipes from his forthcoming cookbook. Dishes will be catered to your likes and dislikes, and all culinary challenges accepted!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,250 or more
About $1,250

Display a HAND ENGRAVED ARIA THEME

$1,000 level rewards, PLUS your name in our album as BENEFACTOR, PLUS a personalized, hand-engraved aria theme of your choice from THREE WAY by Robert. Also receive 2 VIP tickets to the New York premiere of THREE WAY at BAM, June 15-18, and enjoy mingling with an exclusive crowd artists and opera lovers.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $2,500 or more
About $2,500

PERSONALIZED CONCERT with WES MASON

$2,500 level rewards, PLUS credit as EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, PLUS a personalized recital by baritone Wes Mason, one of the singers on the album. Wes will present a one hour recital with baritone songs from THREE WAY and arias of your choosing, for you and a handful of your closest friends and family. This will take place at the apartment of composer Robert Paterson, overlooking the Hudson and Times Square!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $5,000 or more
About $5,000

Be an EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

$2,500 level rewards, PLUS credit in the album as EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, PLUS an exclusive opportunity to attend our recording session at Ocean Way Studios, June 22-24, with the entire cast, orchestra and creative team. Also, the opportunity to attend post production sessions in Boston, MA. Dates TBD.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $10,000
About $10,000

YOUR OWN PRIVATE CONCERT WITH 3 SINGERS

$5,000 level awards, plus you and your friends will receive an exclusive, private concert at Robert Paterson's apartment, overlooking the Hudson River and Times Square, with a pianist three of the singers from the album singing arias from the opera and other selected songs you love. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres while listening to some of the finest singers in North America singing arias from your new favorite opera!